Monthly Archives: August 2013

PNC PARK – When a 36-year-old goes from rock bottom to career year, it raises eyebrows. Marlon Byrd understands this. Not only has Byrd hit a career-best 22 home runs this season and is boasting a career-high slugging mark, but according …

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER – Bringing you behind-the-scenes photos from the Pirates’ business trip out west — plus captions and travel recommendations — from one of Pittsburgh’s top amateur photographers. Why would anyone want to live in San Diego?

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER – Jeff Locke was never a lock to make his next scheduled start, Sunday, for the Pirates. You’re probably aware his struggles. Locke has a 6.18 ERA in the second half of the season, after …

SOUTH HILLS COMMAND CENTER – It’s not like there wasn’t a cost. Dilson Herrera is a fine prospect. He has the potential to have an above-average bat at an up-the-middle position, probably second base. He was likely to crack top …

SAN FRANCISCO – The Pirates aren’t collapsing. They are six wins from 82. They’re coming off a West Coast road trip where they have won more than they lost. And they’re 98 percent likely to be playing in at …

SAN FRANCISCO – Clint Hurdle rejected my hypothesis. Pedro Alvarez did the same. And Josh Harrison also shook his head in disagreement. Still, I’m buying my own theory and it goes something like this: The worst offensive …

SAN DIEGO – Most 22-year-olds are still in early chapters of professional development. They are developing in chosen careers. They are perhaps developing as seniors at universities. They are interns. They are fetching coffee. They are in grad school. Something …

SAN DIEGO – If you are thinking about holiday gift ideas for Clint Hurdle, I’d stay away from label makers. I asked the Pirates manager after Francisco Liriano’s stellar 13-strikeout performance Monday if Liriano had done enough to earn …

SAN DIEGO – So are the Pirates really on the precipice again? Is this part of The Collapse Trilogy? The Pirates have lost seven of nine. They are again struggling in August. There’s the whole Sports Illustrated cover …

PNC PARK – Jeff Locke was an All-Star. Now you wonder if he’ll be in the playoff rotation, assuming the Pirates make the postseason. That’s quite a potential fall. The statistical community long predicted Locke was a prime candidate …